Chapter 1: The Mission of Teatime History

In launching this publication, my goal was to make history accessible and captivating for a broader audience. Unfortunately, contemporary historical narratives often come across as overly academic or filled with unfounded conspiracy theories. The art of history writing, once a cherished literary tradition, seems to be diminishing.

Recently, the resurgence of popular history through books, video games, and documentaries has rekindled public interest in the past. At Teatime History, we are eager to contribute to this revitalization.

We consistently aim for quality storytelling that is well-researched, nuanced, and engaging. Our publication is open to submissions spanning all periods of history; however, in my experience, topics on prehistory, ancient history, and the Middle Ages tend to attract the most attention.

In November, we received a plethora of outstanding submissions, with several being highlighted by the Medium curation team. Sadly, many remarkable stories went unnoticed. As many of you may know, Medium does not offer feedback on rejected submissions, but a rejection does not imply a lack of quality.

To enhance your chances of being featured, consider these strategies:

1. Clarify Your Message: Many submissions are fact-heavy yet fail to engage readers. Remember, you’re writing for an audience, so craft your narrative to capture their interest within a limited word count. Readers seek a compelling story, not an encyclopedia entry.
2. Craft a Relevant Headline: Your title should accurately reflect your content. Even if your article is curated, its success will depend largely on the headline. A captivating title can mean the difference between 500 and 5000 views.
3. Edit Thoroughly: I cannot emphasize enough the importance of proofreading. Careful editing significantly increases your chances of being boosted.
4. Use Supporting Images: Historical articles should incorporate relevant visuals, such as maps, artifacts, and artwork, to enhance reader comprehension.
5. Select Engaging Topics: This is a crucial point that Medium often overlooks. Unless you have uncovered a groundbreaking perspective on a well-known event like the Battle of Waterloo, the likelihood of receiving a boost for a conventional narrative is low.

In the following section, we will explore some of the popular stories from November that exemplify what resonates best with our audience.

Boost Heroes for November

Here are the top five boosted articles that captured significant readership:

• How Did the Pork Taboo Originate? by Prateek Dasgupta
• A Site Of Great Neolithic Violence Shows Us the Dangers Of Misusing Technology by Erik Brown
• Remembering the Holodomor After Ninety Years by Oksana Kukurudza's Sunflowers Rarely Break
• Queen Christina of Sweden: A Queer Monarch Not Averse to Murder by John Welford
• I Researched 3 Locations of Alexander’s Lost Tomb, Here’s My Pick by Ignited by History

Editor’s Picks for November

We encourage our contributors to share their travel narratives related to historical sites, whether they be museums, castles, or archaeological digs. We want to hear about your experiences and insights.

Several authors shared their remarkable journeys in November, including Yuri Minamide’s visit to the National Justice Museum in Nottingham and Rui Alves’ exploration of Portugal's enchanting medieval castles.

Many exceptional stories may not have received the recognition they deserve from the curation team but still resonated with readers. Here are some pieces that garnered love despite not being boosted:

• How Germany Thrived and Died by its Culture of Excellence by Benjamin Cain
• The Paradoxical Freedom of Victorian Corsets by Hope Bernard
• Sarah Winchester and the Nature of Human Violence by Elizabeta Sulentic

Ideas for December

With December upon us, a festive season awaits! If you have intriguing tales about historical celebrations during this month, we would love to hear from you. Here are a couple of popular past stories:

• Why Was Celebrating Christmas Illegal in England During the 17th Century? A seventeen-year ban on Christmas celebrations led to widespread riots.
• Was Christmas Adopted From Ancient Roman Pagan Festivals? The Answer Will Surprise You The truth is nuanced.

Of course, feel free to explore other subjects as well! For those interested in contributing to our publication, please review our submission guidelines.

Submission Guidelines - Teatime History

I extend my gratitude to all our contributors and readers for their support in keeping Teatime History vibrant. Wishing everyone a fantastic month ahead!

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